This database contains over 12,000 death notices of physicians who were graduates and/or faculty members of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) and have been published in various Columbia University alumni publications. Besides VP&S graduates and faculty members, there are also entries for recipients of Columbia's Doctor of Medical Science degree, Doctor of Philosophy degree in the biomedical sciences, and Certificate in Psychoanalytical Medicine.

At present the database includes obituaries of graduates back to the first graduating class of the College of Physicians & Surgeons in 1811. It does not include any for graduates of the King’s College/Columbia College Faculty of Medicine, founded in 1767 and merged into P&S in 1814.

The entries cover all issues of Columbia Medicine, the journal of the Alumni Association of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, from its founding in June 1955 (as the P&S Alumni Association Bulletin) and updated biannually. Other sources are death notices appearing in the Columbia Alumni News, 1909-1957 and the dates of death given in the 19th century editions of the P&S alumni directories published in 1859, 1866, 1880, and 1891.

Most notices, especially those appearing in the Columbia Alumni News, are extremely brief and have been transcribed. Some longer notices have been summarized. The journal title, volume and issue number, and date are cited.

In some instances the citation also refers to an obituary appearing in The New York Times or other newspapers. Where there is a discrepancy between the date of death appearing in the Columbia publication and that appearing in a non-university publication, the date listed in the former has been preferred.

Researchers should be aware that many entries, especially those in the Columbia Alumni News, often include nothing but the year of graduation and date of death.